How I Manage Hormonal Acne

Hormonal acne reared its ugly head into my life nearly two years ago. After lots of research, trial and error and consulting a professional, I’ve started to get a good idea of what works for me.

*Disclaimers: I am not a licensed professional. This post can be used as a guide for ingredients or products to try but everyone’s skin is different. I highly recommend consulting a professional for a more in-depth skin analysis. This post also contains affiliate links, we may receive a small commission from any products purchased*

I’m now at the age where I’ve started paying a lot more attention to my skin. I was one of the lucky few teenagers who did not experience acne so skincare was a non-issue for me through my mid-twenties. It was clear and gave me almost no issues (outside of being oily) so I had a very *whatevs* attitude toward skincare products/routines. Cut to summer 2018, the birth control I was using started having a negative effect on my health and I decided to come off of it. Over the next few months, I saw the impact on my skin. I had painful breakouts, dark spots and I was a picker (don’t do this) which made it worse! Since skincare was a foreign concept to me, I had no idea what kind of acne I had or what to use for it.

I eventually stumbled upon LABeautyologist (youtube, twitter) and not only is she a licensed esthetician, but she’s a black woman. The latter was important for me because I knew she could recommend products and methods that worked for me. I learned from her Youtube channel that I had hormonal acne. I mostly got breakouts during my period and the acne was concentrated around my chin and cheeks.

I got my first facial (blog post here) shortly after and confirmed with an esthetician in person just to be sure. The woman who did my facial was wonderful and was so willing to answer all my questions, which was a huge help! Where I went wrong at the start of my skincare journey was overloading with products. I bought every product that was suggested for hormonal acne and my skin was like “Oh no baby! What is you doin’?”. That caused even MORE breakouts and I was so frustrated.

Around December 2019 I simplified my routine. I peeled back big time and only used four products in my skincare routine. I focused on the ingredient I knew would combat my acne and built around that.

My skin has gotten significantly better since I simplified my routine. It’s not 100% clear yet but I’ve made so much progress. Below are some of the ingredients that manage acne and the products I use in my routine. I hope they help you as much as they’ve helped me.

Ingredients

Salicylic Acid- Helps to unclog pores and encourages skin exfoliation by dissolving skin debris. *Note: overusing this ingredient can dry your skin out. Don’t layer too many products with this as an active ingredient*

Vitamin C- Helps to brighten the skin and fade dark spots and acne scars.

Hyaluronic Acid- A humectant that brings moisture to the surface of the skin. Universal and works well for all skin types.

Products I use

Cleansers

Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Gel- This is the cleanser I used when I dialed back on the products I used. It works really well and is part of a system you can use for all things acne.

Cera Ve SA Cleanser-Another cleanser with salicylic acid as the active ingredient that works well at a cheaper price point. You can grab this almost anywhere, so accessibility is a plus!

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash- This is a great cleanser for daily use. It’s very gentle and most skin types can use it. I like to use this on the days I’m not using an SA cleanser since it’s pretty neutral.

Toners

Heritage Store Rose Water Toner-I love this toner because it’s gentle, hydrating and great for every day use.

Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying lotion- This is an active toner with salicylic acid so I don’t use it daily. I use this when I’m having a breakout and focus it on those area. Too much of this will likely dry your skin out.

Serums

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid- This is the first and only HA I’ve ever tried. The Ordinary is a budget-friendly brand so you can test something like an HA out without breaking the bank.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum- This is one of two vitamin C serums I use. It’s pretty lightweight but it did take a while for me to see results with this. Fading dark spots in general takes time so with some consistency I’ve seen good results.

Derma E Vitamin C serum- This is a more bang for your buck Vitamin C serum. I really like Derma E’s products — they’re a clean brand, affordable and make quality products. Their vitamin C serum also has hyaluronic acid so it gives a hydration boost too!

Derma E Salicylic Acid Serum- I use this serum daily to keep my skin in check. It’s proved to be pretty gentle but still effective with minimizing breakouts.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid- This is a chemical exfoliant that I probably use bi-weekly. The esthetician I saw recommended lactic acid as a way to gently exfoliate my skin without major peeling.

Moisturizers

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Moisturizer- I love this moisturizer! A Sephora employee recommended it because it’s lightweight and super hydrating. She did not steer me wrong. I like to use it at night especially because I wake up and my skin still feels plump!

Belif True Cream Aqua Bomb- I Bought this recently because it’s supposed to be a dupe for the Tatcha Water gream (which is AMAZING but expensive af). So far I do really like it but it doesn’t always play well with my other products. When I use too much it rolls up on my skin so I have to use a smaller amount. Less is definitely more when it comes to this moisturizer.

Derma E Anti Wrinkle Face Oil- I use a few drops of this after I moisturize to lock everything in. I have oily skin and used to be leery of face oils but this one isn’t greasy at all. A few drops gives me a nice glow and keeps the wrinkles at bay!

Sunscreen

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40- Wearing SPF daily is very important, even for black women. Our melanin does not fully protect us from UV rays. SPF is also a major key for treating hyperpigmentation. I’ve read you need at least SPF 30 to ensure you’re fully protected and it should be a pure sunscreen — not mixed with a moisturizer. My skin thanked me when I started wearing SPF daily and this one is truly unseen, no white or blue cast!

I know this was a long post but I had to share as much as I could with you all! Let me know if you found these suggestions helpful and if you use any of these products!